A Little-Known, But HUGE Mistake Most HR Job Seekers Make on LinkedIn — And How To Correct It!
by Alan Collins
One of the biggest mistakes I see HR job seekers make on LinkedIn is…
…with their headline!
To clarify, your headline is located on the line immediately below your name on your LinkedIn profile.
And it’s the first thing a headhunter, recruiter or hiring manager sees – after your name and picture.
If you’re on the prowl for a new opportunity and your headline doesn’t scream and make you stand out from the 2 million other HR people around the globe, you’re toast.
With busy, overworked recruiters who are under the gun to find candidates for great jobs, you only have a few seconds to grab their attention.
If you don’t, they’ll just click past your profile and you’re SOL.
However, a good headline will stop them dead in their tracks.
But most headlines for HR folks suck and here’s why…
1. They’re BORING AS HELL.
Phrases like “Results-oriented Generalist” or “Strategic Business Partner” or “Dynamic Problem-Solver” are used so much in HR, they don’t excite anyone.
If your headline is full of these kinds of buzzwords, you’ll just be seen as a typical schmuck in HR, no different than anyone else.
2. They don’t SHOWCASE WHAT YOU CAN DO.
Most HR folks just use a job title and name of their last employer as their headline.
You are much more than just your last job.
Whether you are an HR generalist, specialist, executive, consultant, if your headline doesn’t clearly explain your “value-add”…or what you do makes other people and organizations better, most time-strapped recruiters will just click past your profile.
3. They make you sound DESPERATE.
If you’re in transition, don’t say in your headline that you are “unemployed” or that you are “seeking new opportunities.” You don’t have to hide or lie about this, but stating this upfront in your headline merely discounts your worth.
In today’s HR competitive job market, you shouldn’t be passively sitting back hoping that recruiters and hiring managers will find you, anyway. You should be aggressively seeking out opportunities on your own.
In addition, no one gives a rip about what you are looking for. They ONLY care about how you can make their job easier and how you can solve their specific organizational problems.
So far, I’ve described what you SHOULDN’T DO.
Now, here’s how to create a more compelling LinkedIn headline:
- Say WHAT you are.
- Say WHO you help.
- Say HOW you make their organization better.
- Give PROOF that you are credible.
Here are some examples:
- Talent Acquisition Executive who helps Fortune 500 companies quickly source hard-to-find IT & engineering talent. Clients include Apple & Pepsi.
- Human Resources Leader who helps manufacturing and sales executives optimize & retain their high potential talent. P&G President’s Award Winner.
- Organization Development Consultant who helps start-up companies grow their in-house leadership talent faster. Former OD executive at Netflix.
- HR Generalist who helps corporate VPs measurably improve their staff’s engagement & productivity. Results featured in Workforce.com.
In each of these example headlines, you immediately know what the person does, who they help, how they help them, and why they are credible.
And each one differentiates you from the rest of the ho-hum crowd!
However, these are merely quick examples and you can certainly craft one for yourself better than these.
The 120 characters that LinkedIn gives you for your headline is valuable part of your HR career brand.
So don’t waste this asset.
If you’re in the job market..or anticipate that you will be soon…go make this change in your headline…NOW!
Don’t get overlooked.
Onward!
About the Author: Alan Collins was Vice President – Human Resources at PepsiCo where he led HR initiatives for their Quaker Oats, Gatorade and Tropicana businesses. He is Founder of Success in HR, Inc. and the author of the two HR best sellers, UNWRITTEN HR RULES and BEST KEPT HR SECRETS. His NEW book, YOUR HR GOLDMINE is now is available on Amazon.
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[...] here is a very good piece of advice from Alan Collins at Success in HR on how HR can improve their LinkedIn profile when looking for a [...]
Excellent advice! This is a game changer.
Great Points Alan, spot on! Now off to check mine…
Thank you Alan for such sound advice. I will begin working on my headline immediately!
Hello Alan,
Thank you very much for your useful article.
Kind
Regards,
Ghazi
Great article Alan! And it doesn’t just pertain to HR folks. Anyone in transition could benefit from this advice.
Great stuff, but once you find a recruiter/manager willing to read a headline of about 120 characters at a 3-second glimpse, as that’s usually the maximum time they spend reading the headline, let me know. I wish they payed attention as you describe.
I will definitely give it a go and change my LI headline to see the reaction
Amazing advice, Alan! I will start with the working on my headline.
Good job!Keep it up.
Alan:
Once again, outstanding, effective, and useful advice. Your “straight talk advice,” written in your books, and on linkedin is by far the best.
Leslie Blazys, BSc, MSc
Excellent article. As someone who has been on both sides of this situation (haven’t we all?) I can honestly confess that I don’t spend time looking at a potential candidate in a more serious fashion unless their headline smacks me in the face. It has to be instantly compelling, complete and correct.
“The more you explain it, the more I don’t understand it.” – Mark Twain
It was a great article. I have read your books which have helped me as well but not enough to break through the wall of bias against long term unemployed baby boomers. Recruiters tell me I am overqualified for every HR job below a director or manager level because companies think I will leave. I haven’t been hired so far and all I’m looking for is the opportunity to get recent experience and a way to make some money for my family. Could one person/company take a leap of faith and hire me. I am a very capable person, help your fellow HR professional.
A very informative article but only for HR professionals that have experience but what about job seekers like myself? I have a Masters degree in Organizational Management with specilization in HR but no hands-on experience….what advice can you give me and job seekers like me? Thanks.
A really informative and productive Article, Thanx Alan!
Excellent article and advise. Thank you Alan!!!!!
Thank you for the reminder…we know what we can do, but recruiters don’t unless we tell them.
I will sure reference this article on our website this week. You make a valid point which i think all job seeker should note. Thanks
Alan, Great advice and article. Makes we want to read your new book. Thanks
Great Article Alan. One of the most down to earth and no nonsense advice I have come across.
No doubt the same goes for our Resume Headlines as well and maybe one reason why resume’s of good talent goes overlooked…..